Nauvoo the Beautiful

We started our trip in Carthage. The senior missionaries that gave us a tour had been senior missionaries here in Bloomington when we first moved here, Elder and Sister Dewitt!

This was such an amazing place, words can't even describe the Spirit you feel here.

We arrived in Nauvoo at 5 pm on March 17. We were overwhelmed with how much is there! The LDS visitors center had just closed so we drove around and the Community of Christ church had the Joseph Smith Red Brick Store open. It was really special to be in the Red Brick store on March 17.....date ring a bell....it was the anniversary of the Relief Society. Oh how I love the Relief Society!

There were a lot of activities for kids. Here is Johnny and Robby making their own rope! Being the off season there was a lot of stuff not going on but being an impatient person, it was sure nice to not deal with an crowds! Most of the tours we had were just us.

Nauvoo is full of family history on my side, my direct lines Joseph Sr and Polly Knight, Anna and Freeborn Demille, George Laub. I always heard that my Great Great Grandfather George Laub (Yes, only 2nd great, Laub's all had children late in life) had a house in Nauvoo but on day 2 of our trip I hadn't seen it around town, so we went to the Land and Records. I asked the sister missionary and she got really excited and said "come look over here (pointing out the window) George Laub's house is right up Parley Street at the top of the hill there." She told me it was his original house, the church owns it and the senior missionaries live in it. It's right in the middle of the Nauvoo State Park. George burried a son Ephraim in the back yard. My family has copies of his 5 journals he wrote in while in Nauvoo, the trek west and in SLC. I have read much of his journals. So it was very special to me to see. I hope to someday return as a senior missionary with Johnny, maybe we'll get to live in his house!

Knight St runs along the north side of the temple. Joseph Knight Sr and Freeborn Demille's families lived south of the temple on this street.

Newel Knights Mill, right along the Mississippi river. This is owned by the Community of Christ.

Johnny's gr gr uncle Willford Woodwuff's home. A neat story we heard there: His family was lucky to have been able to sell their home, they were 3 days journey west and he remembered there was a leak in the ceiling. He rode back and patched the ceiling. What a great man!

Johnny has other relations that came down from Canada and made the trek west when the saints left Nauvoo.

The temple was so beauitiful! Johnny was able to help with Baptisms and I was able to do a session. Robby really wanted to go in! One of his favorite songs is "I Love to See the Temple."

Nauvoo is truly a beautiful place! We loved our short visit, 2 days is not nearly enough to see everything. Oh how I love those saints in Nauvoo! As we rode the horse and wagon ride down Parley Street toward the Mississippi, you can't help but feel of the saints testimonies.